David Puttnam on ‘Discovering’ Alan Parker, Being Ready for Luck and James Dean’s Famous Line in ‘East of Eden’
variety.comJohn Hopewell Chief International Correspondent For a brief period, over 1982-86, the U.K. enjoyed a remarkable film renaissance.
Four films – “Chariots of Fire,” (1982) “Gandhi,” (1983) “The Killing Fields” (1985) and “The Mission” (1986) – won a total 19 Academy Awards, including Best Picture two years running.
All of those films, save “Gandhi,” were produced by David Puttnam. To this day, few figures are more associated with a national film revival. “The British are coming,” “The Chariots of Fire” screenwriter Colin Welland famously said in his Oscar speech.
The main Brit Hollywood had on their radar was Puttnam. He was appointed CEO of Columbia Pictures in 1986, becoming the first and only foreigner ever, he notes, to serve on the board of the MPA.
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